Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps her Department has taken to reverse the EU ban on import of mangoes from India.
Answered by Dan Rogerson
The lifting of the ban on the import of mangoes from India is a decision for the EU’s Standing Committee for Plant Health. This will be considered once India has demonstrated that it can meet European Union (EU) import requirements which are designed to prevent the introduction of plant pests. The EU’s Food and Veterinary Office was due to carry out a further audit of India’s phytosanitary export system between 2 and 12 September. The results of this audit will be published later in the year and the Standing Committee will then consider whether it is appropriate to lift the ban.
To help the Indian authorities ensure that future exports consistently comply with the EU’s requirements, Defra’s Food and Environment Research Agency delivered training to exporters and government inspectors in Mumbai in August.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is (a) undertaking or (b) plans to undertake a review of the check-off union subscription provision.
Answered by Dan Rogerson
Defra is currently reviewing the provision of check-off for trade union subscriptions.